English Chess Federation

World School Chess Championships - Round 2

Matt Hunt Reports:

The pairings came out last night after 10pm local time. Many of The Players had gone to bed (or at least to their rooms) already, so the coaches took the chance to look up a few opponents in Chessbase “Big ‘06”, the latest database of over 3.2 million games. This enables them, if an opponent has games recorded from previous tournaments, to check out their openings and start to think through their coaching sessions with each of The Players. Meanwhile the Responsible Adults watched the footie and became less and less Responsible, culminating in a near riot when the penalty that wasn’t was awarded (keeping up?). What joy at the subsequent save!

But let me explain – the chess has started and a routine built around coaching and matches is starting to be established. There are 3 coaches who, in lethal combination with Peter “Mr Chips” Turner (the much-adored England Team Manager), form the tight-knit cartel that is “The Powers That Be”. The conscientious and excessively dedicated coaches are: Neil “Wary” McDonald; Adam “Where’s he got to now?” Hunt (still no relation); and Jonathan “Camera Shy” Tuck. They each have charge over 4 of The Players, and coaching started formally on Sunday with 1 hour slots from 10:00 to 14:00 each day. The coaches then grab a bite to eat before generally helping out on any questions from The Players or playing ping pong. Each of The Players adopts their own routine in the afternoon: some of the younger ones read books or relax in their rooms, the older ones tend to try to sneak a quick beer or two in the bar. But seriously – it is relatively free time until 30 minutes before the round starts when all gather at the pool-side café for vital administrative updates and the long foot march to the Athos Palace…

Today, being only Round 2, of course the routine was thrown into disarray by the happenstance of it being Harry Streeter’s birthday. To make it a special occasion a celebratory lunch was held, and gifts provided. “A puppy!” exclaimed Harry on seeing the box-shaped present wrapped and waiting for him. “So much IQ, so little intelligence!” sighed another Responsible Adult. But all-in-all a successful “party” was had. Even The Team Mascot got a place at the table.

Highlight of the lunch was the Birthday Cake, lovingly prepared by the café chef, and decorated with real Hogwarts candles that re-light themselves if blown out. If only Harry had realised (Hermione surely would have) but fortunately he managed to blow them all out and keep them out before himself passing out from hyperventilation.

In case you are worried, the delicious looking drinks are fruit juice only and the diet is balanced – look what was left on the table a the end of the meal if you don’t believe me:

And now the Chess bit:

Whilst the pairings is still somewhat of a lottery, wins in the first round mean a number of England players are on high boards against tough opponents. Luckily no England players are drawn against each other, but Jessica, Samuel, Ben and Polly are all up against graded players. A small compensation is that FIDE rated players (typically) have more of their games in Chessbase – every little can help in preparing for the game.

17:00 and it’s a prompt start – the games are turning out to be well organised – and the Responsible Adults leave The Players to it. First out with a draw is Patrick Stevens - his first positive international result. Joe Quinn came out with a win followed by Sharan Soni who, like Patrick, got off the mark with a draw. There follows a long pause until Ed V-R comes out with a win, then it is not until 3 hours are up before anyone else appears – and then it is George O’Toole and Polly Lambert who come out together. Polly has a creditable draw against her graded opponent, and George wins again. Daniel Hunt then appears only a few steps behind, also having notched up a second win. It is going well for England at this stage.

Next out are two players who had tough draws. Jessica has lost to the 3rd seeded Russian, meanwhile Samuel Franklin gets a great draw. Callum Kilpatrick comes out with a draw too.

Ben and Harry are last out – unfortunately for both, having lost long, hard-fought battles: Harry had 27 seconds only left (his opponent had 4 minutes) and Ben eventually ran out of time altogether.

Nonetheless, a positive day for the squad as a whole. Still over half points, with 6½ out of 12, and everyone is off the mark. Tomorrow (Thursday) has two rounds (10:00 and 17:00 local time – take off 2 hours for UK time) so everything could change…

The full results are as follows:

Game of the Round:

(2) Visanescu, Daria - Hunt, Daniel [B50]
2006 World Schools Championship Halkidiki, 26.04.2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.h3 g6 6.d3 Bg7 7.Bg5 0–0 8.Qd2 a6 9.0–0 Nd7!? 10.Bh6 Nde5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Bb3 Nc6 [12...Bxh3 was Danny's original idea, but in the nick of time he saw 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.f4! winning a piece] 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.f4 Nd4 15.Ne2 Nxb3 16.axb3 e6 17.Rf3?! Too ambitious. Black is not getting checkmated. 17...b6 18.Rg3 d5 19.e5 d4! opening the long diagonal for the bishop and restricting the white knight. 20.Kh2 Bb7 21.Ng1 f6 22.exf6+ Qxf6 23.Rf1 e5 24.Ne2 [24.f5] 24...Qe6 25.Qd1 Rf5 26.fxe5 Raf8 27.Rxf5 Rxf5 28.Rg4 Qxe5+ 29.Rg3 Rf2!

A rather miserable position for white, and a triumph for the power of the bishop over knight. White now loses material by force 30.Kg1 [30.Ng1 Rxg2+] 30...Rxe2 31.Kf1 Qf4+ 32.Kxe2 Qxg3 33.c3 Qxg2+ 34.Ke1 Bf3 35.Qd2 Qg1# 0–1

The pairings for Round 3 are out, apologies for any typos but this is “Stop the press!” time…

PS: A special “Hi Matt!” to the Quinn who is not here from all the Quinns who are…